Karaoke moment uncovers gem

Anita Crone/South Strand News
Luke Moore takes to the stage at the Garden City Beach Bar and Grill.

Some things seem to blossom at the beach. Luke Moore, his parents, other family members and friends are believers now.

Luke, 14, from Columbia, always sang around the house – even as a toddler. As he grew older, his repertoire increased, but he kept his talent hidden. “He would never sing in public,” said his father, Brent, who is in medical sales.

But this year, it all changed. The Moore family rented a house in Garden City Beach, and while out for dinner, chanced to pick a restaurant where local entertainer Martha Bullard was hosting karaoke.

For some reason, Luke decided to take the stage. “I don’t know why,” he said. “I can be shy, but this time, I just wanted to sing.”

And sing he did.

“I’ve had lots of people who come up for their first time,” said Bullard. “But he was special.”

Luke went back home, put together a band – guitar player, drummer, bass player – and within two weeks had a paying gig.

“There aren’t enough hours in the week for him now,” laughs his dad.

Those time constraints aren’t enough to keep Luke from coming back to the beach and following Bullard from gig to gig – at least the ones where people under 21 are welcome.

His strong suit is country, he said, but Bullard said his sound can carry him through blues, a la Ray Charles, or whatever he puts his mind to.

When Luke first takes the stage, he’s still a bit stiff. But as the lights dim and the music heats up, you can see him relax. And his voice gets a bit deeper, his foot starts keeping a rhythm and the patrons quiet to hear him.

He realizes he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to make music a career. Plus he’s got four years of high school ahead of him.

But he is already taking the first steps toward distancing himself from those who sing in the shower to those who take to the stage.

He’s got band practice on Monday, voice lessons on Wednesdays, guitar on Thursday and the weekends to perform every chance he gets.

“It’s way easier now,” he said. “All that fear just went away.”

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